Day Seven: The final leg of the journey

 Day Seven

We woke up and drove across the border. We are back in the USA!!!!!!! Praise God!
We can understand the road signs again.  No more will we have to convert km to miles so we know if we have enough fuel to make it to the next station. 

Another reason we have to praise our Heavenly Father is for bringing such  wonderful men into our lives. He has blessed us with awesome role models and fathers. 

Dad, Maurice, we are so thankful for your love and support through every life decision and move we have made. In fact, we hope you are enjoying this trip as you are hauling our Excursion to Alaska for us. We appreciate it so much, and are glad you volunteered to do it! We love you. Thank you for teaching Gavin how to be such an amazing Dad, and how he should treat a woman. We are where we are today because of the sense of adventure and desire to better ourselves you have instilled in all your kids. Thanks for giving your family roots so they could spread their wings and fly.

Dad, Kelly, we love you so much. Thanks for teaching me what a father's love feels like, and how to stand strong on my own two feet. You are my hero Dad for giving so much to all of us six kids, and now for sharing life and laughter with your 14 grandkids! You are special, and missed. Know that you are always loved, forever cherished, and never forgotten. 

Gavin we are so blessed to have such an amazing man in our lives. You are the reason I am who I am today. I am blessed to be your wife and the mother of your children. You give our children stability in family, hope for the future, power to believe in their dreams, a passion for living life not just getting by, and a love so great they will never be able to deny that you strive daily to make them feel important and special. Thanks for choosing me time and time again, and thank you for actively participating in rearing our children through the love of Jesus Christ. 



Okay enough sappy talk and back to the blog, but I hope you all take a moment today to tell your dad how special he is to you.  

  We crossed into the Alaskan time zone at 6:00 a.m. This puts us 3 hours behind the Midwest and 4 hours behind the East Coast. The girls were singing/ chanting "We are in Alaska!"  After about ten minutes we required they stop singing; seven days in a truck can get on your nerves a bit! 

We passed through familiar territory and were feeling absolutely elated to be this close to home. We were trying to make the most out of the horrendous frost heaves. Gavin and I feel like we have whiplash; however, the kids love the big bumps and constant jostling. They made tents with their blankets and this is the quietest they have been since the start of the trip. 

Olivia is resting on my legs and this helps alleviate a little of the thwapping her body is taking. She has done so well. However, she HATES the kennel. When we try to put her in she pulls back on the leash, and tries to run the opposite direction. Then once I get her to a point I can lift her to the back of the truck she goes limp and dead weights it. It is hard for me to lift her when she is like jelly. 

We knew we were really close when we passed the Matanuska Glacier. Our excitement to see our home and get out of the truck was building and nostalgic feelings were growing the closer we got. 

After lunch at one of our old time favorites, The Noisy Goose, we headed to our house. We parked the trailer in the neighbors yard. These neighbors are the sweetest couple, and were so excited to know we were coming back. They treat our kids like their own grandkids and used to spoil Otis rotten. They hugged us all, and told Olivia she would be spoiled too. It is so nice getting back to our old neighborhood,  even though most of our military friends have since moved away. 

Nonetheless, we are finally home. Our long road has led us back to the place we love and missed. I was wrong, the journey is not over; it has just begun! I will keep you all updated so please keep in touch. We love and miss you all. God speed. 

Thank you Lord for a trip of great memories made with those we love, and for protected travels. We are not worthy of your goodness, but we praise you for blessing us endlessly. 


P.S. Pictures of last few days will be posted tomorrow ! 
Peace n Prayers
The Alaskan Gardner Clan
Gavin, Allie,  
Nehemiah, Evelyn, &  Lilyan